Cleveland Museum of Art

Incense Burner (Boshan Lu)

Date

200–100 BCE

Medium

bronze

Culture

China, Western Han dynasty (206 BCE–8 CE)

Department

Chinese Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The conical cover of this incense burner represents a miniature mountain with hunting scenes. The cover was shrouded in mist and emanated intoxicating smoke through its openwork when fragrant woods and herbs were burnt in its stem cup, transporting its beholder into an imaginative realm. Deities (appearing as hunters) and fantastic beasts roam freely among mists and clouds on this incense burner.

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